Fightnews.com

By Mauricio Sulaimán
President of the WBC – Son of José Sulaimán

After the storm came calm, following the memorable and momentous battle between Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk. Here is my analysis of the facts.

Fury, from England, faced Usyk, from Ukraine, in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, in what is already considered one of the great fights in history, compared to Ali-Frazier, Ali-Foreman or Tyson-Holyfield, among other legendary fights.

Both were fighting for the UNDISPUTED, but more so Fury for redemption and legacy while Usyk for his country and Ukrainian strength. Continue reading “Analysis After the Storm, Usyk Vs. Fury”

Following his 40-second demolition of Mark Heffron last week, WBC #1, WBA #2, IBF #3, WBO #3 super middleweight Christian Mbilli (27-0, 23 KOs) will next face three-time world title challenger Sergiy “The Technician” Derevyanchenko (15-5, 10 KOs) in the 10-round main event on August 17 at Videotron Centre in Quebec City, Canada.

Christian Mbilli: “It’s an honor to fight Sergiy Derevyanchenko. I’ve been hearing about him since I was 16, in the amateur ranks, where he defeated several Frenchmen. In the pros, he has only fought big names, so this will definitely be my biggest fight to date. I can’t wait for it. It’s going to be a war.”

Sergiy Derevyanchenko: “If I win this fight, I expect to fight for a world title next, which has always been my ultimate goal. I expect August 17 to be a war and a Fight of the Year-type candidate, and I will be the winner.”

Two weeks ago, the IBF ordered undisputed super middleweight champion Canelo Alvarez to defend against IBF #1 contender William Scull (22-0, 9 KOs), who has been the IBF mandatory since July 2022. Both parties were given until June 12th to reach an agreement, however according to Scull’s promoter Ingo Volckmann, the Canelo camp hasn’t responded and the IBF has granted the Scull camp an early purse bid on June 6.

“Canelo has to fight us now or he will give up the title,” said Volckmann. “Since the IBF has now officially announced the purse bid, Canelo cannot apply for a special permit, as Oleksandr Usyk has now done. The only thing they could do is agree on a ‘step aside’ fee with us in order to postpone the fight again. It’s all well and good that he’s Canelo, but he also has to play by the rules no matter how popular he is. We’ve waited long enough. There will definitely be an offer from us at the purse bid because we want the fight!”

The WBC Board of governors has voted to designate current WBC welterweight champion Terence Crawford as champion in recess. Crawford will next move up to super welterweight to fight for the WBA title against Israil Madrimov on August 3 in Los Angeles. The WBC has officially sanctioned Crawford-Madrimov as a final elimination bout for the mandatory position in the super welterweight division. Crawford will inform the WBC which division he wishes to compete in after the August fight.

Today is Media Day ahead of the history-making 5 vs 5 collision between promotional rivals Queensberry and Matchroom, a $69.99 PPV event taking place Saturday in Riyadh, Saudi Arebia.

Heavyweight: “Big Bang” Zhilei Zhang vs. “Bronze Bomber” Deontay Wilder
Heavyweight: IBF #1 contender Filip Hrgovic vs. Daniel Dubois
Featherweight: WBA world champion Ray Ford vs. Nick Ball
Middleweight: Hamzah Sheeraz vs. Austin ‘Ammo’ Williams
Light heavyweight: Willy Hutchinson vs. Craig ‘Spider’ Richards

In addition, WBA light heavyweight champion Dimitry Bivol will defend against Malik Zinad.

Here are a few shots from Mark Robinson / Matchroom Boxing:

Super lightweight contender Jack Catterall will seek a world title shot against WBO champion Teofimo Lopez after gaining revenge against Josh Taylor on Saturday night in a non-title grudge match.

“The world title has always been the dream for me,” said Catterall. “We didn’t get the undisputed and we didn’t get the world titles last time. But that’s fine because that chapter has been rewritten now. We’re in a great position and Eddie [Hearn] has a massive stable at 140 so I want that world title fight.

“I was mandatory for the WBO title for what felt like a lifetime. [Teofimo Lopez] beat Taylor before I did. We’ve both had a win over him and now I want to prove that I’m better than him. I believe I’ve got the style to beat Lopez and that’s the fight I want. Continue reading “Catterall targets Teofimo Lopez”

WBC #1, WBA #2, IBF #3, WBO #3 super middleweight Christian Mbilli (27-0, 23 KOs) destroyed Mark Heffron (30-4-1, 24 KOs) in the first round on Saturday night at the Centre Gervais Auto in Shawinigan, Quebec, Canada. Mbilli came out throwing body shots and folded up Heffron in just 40 seconds.

Rebounding from his first professional loss, IBF #12, WBC #14 heavyweight Arslanbek Makhmudov (19-1, 18 KOs) destroyed Miljan Rovcanin (27-4, 18 KOs) in round two. A clubbing Makhmudov right hand knocked Rovcanin halfway out of the ring for a knockdown in round one. Makhmudov then laid out Rovcanin with a crushing right hand in round two. Time was 2:32.

Unbeaten light heavyweight Mehmet Unal (10-0, 8 KOs) was impressive in stopping Rodolfo Gomez Jr (14-8-3, 10 KOs) in round four. Well received referee’s stoppage. Time was 2:17.

Promoter Eddie Hearn: “The Scottish fans won’t be happy. I thought the judge’s scorecards were too wide, but the decision was bang on. Jack Catterall won that fight. He closed the show beautifully. He dominated the first six rounds. I love Scotland, but justice was served tonight. That’s for sure. Two years ago this man should’ve been the undisputed champion…he should have the belts around his waist.”

Promoter Bob Arum: “Hey! I saw the fight like everybody else. Those scorecards were a disgrace. An absolute disgrace and I really feel sorry for Josh. I thought he won the fight, but those scorecards were ridiculous. And that’s a lesson. I will never ever allow an American fighter to come here with this British Board scoring the fight. Those scores were ridiculous.”

In a grudge rematch, Jack Catterall (29-1, 13 KOs) avenged his loss to former undisputed junior welterweight champion Josh Taylor (19-2, 13 KOs) taking a twelve round unanimous decision on Saturday night at the First Direct Arena in Leeds, England. Taylor and Catterall fought 27 months ago in Glasgow, Scotland, with Taylor winning a controversial split decision. This time, it was another close fight with both fighters digging deep and having their moments. Scores were 117-111, 117-111, 116-113 for Catterall.

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Unbeaten cruiserweight Cheavon Clarke (9-0, 7 KOs) knocked out Ellis Zorro (17-2, 7 KOs) in the eighth round to win the vacant British title. A right hand laid out Zorro at 2:59. Zorro was kayoed in one round by current world champion Jai Opetaia in his previous fight.

Unbeaten welterweight Paddy Donovan (14-0, 11 KOs) stopped former top ten contender Lewis Ritson (23-4, 13 KOs) in round nine to retain the WBA Continental title. A barrage of punches prompted a referee’s stoppage at :32.

Lightweight Gary Cully (18-1, 10 KOs) outpointed former European champion Francesco Patera (29-5, 11 KOs) over ten rounds. Scores were 96-94, 96-94, 98-92.

By Robert Coster

In Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, former WBA interim light heavyweight champion Felix “Mangu” Valera stepped back into ring action against fellow countryman Andy Perez but in the cruiserweight division. Valera (23-5, 20 KOs) leveled Perez (20-15, 15 KOs) with a vicious, right-hand body blow in just two rounds.

“I feel really good at that weight,” declared Valera, “I’m ready to fight the best.” Continue reading “Ex-champ Valera KOs Perez”

Middleweight “Super Bad” Vlad Panin (19-1, 11 KOs) scored a second round KO over former two-division world champion Devon Alexander “The Great” (27-9-1, 14 KOs) on Friday night at the River Cree Resort Casino in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. In round two, Panin dropped Alexander with a short left hand. Alexander got up, argued that the punch was behind the head, then took a knee. At that point the fight was immediately halted. Time was 1:52. Five straight losses now for the 37-year-old Alexander, whose last W came in 2017.

Former WBO cruiserweight champion Lawrence “The Sauce” Okolie (20-1, 15 KOs) destroyed and dethroned previously undefeated WBC bridgerweight champion Lukasz Rozanski (15-1, 14 KOs) in the first round on Friday night at the Podpromie Arena in Rzeszow, Poland. The 6’5 Okolie dropped the 38-year-old Rozanski three times in the first stanza to end it! Time was 2:55.

Christian Mbilli 166.7 vs. Mark Heffron 167.3
(WBA International/WBC Continental Americas super middleweight titles)

Arslanbek Makhmudov 263.8 vs. Miljan Rovcanin 236.2

Mehmet Unal 177.5 vs. Rodolfo Gomez Jr 175.8
Wilkens Mathieu 171 vs. Przemyslaw Gorgon 170.8
Christopher Guerrero 147.5 vs. Kenny Larson 148.6
Moreno Fendero 163.8 vs. Rolando Wenceslao Mansilla 163.4
Alexandre Gaumont 159.5 vs. Santiago Fernandez 159.6
Jhon Orobio 134.5 vs. Arturo Torres Gonzalez 134.6

Venue: Gervais Auto Center, Shawinigan, Quebec, Canada
Promoter: Eye of the Tiger
TV: ESPN+

WBC/WBO super welterweight champion Sebastian Fundora will reportedly defend against Errol Spence Jr. in October. According to ESPN, the bout would take place in Spence’s hoemtown of Dallas, possibly at the Dallas Cowboys’ AT&T Stadium. The event would be an Amazon Prime PPV.

Josh Taylor 139.6 vs. Jack Catterall 139.8
Cheavon Clarke 199.3 vs. Ellis Zorro 198.6
Paddy Donovan 145.4 vs. Lewis Ritson 146.8

Venue: First Direct Arena, Leeds, England
Promoter: Matchroom
TV: ESPN+ (US), DAZN (UK)

By Miguel Maravilla

Undefeated Mexican lightweight William “El Camarón” Zepeda (30-0, 26 KOs) of San Mateo Atenco, Mexico, and Chicago’s Giovanni Cabrera (22-1, 7 KOs) held a press conference Thursday afternoon at the Golden Boy headquarters to officially announce their fight on July 6, at Toyota Arena in Ontario, California live on DAZN. Continue reading “Zepeda-Cabrera Kickoff Press Conference”

WBO #12 heavyweight Jermaine “The 989 Assassin” Franklin Jr. (23-2, 15 KOs) scored a sixth round TKO over 2004 Olympian Devin Vargas (22-11, 9 KOs) on Thursday night at the Wayne State Fieldhouse in Detroit, Michigan. Franklin connected with big shots in every round, but the rugged 42-year-old Vargas was able to absorb it. Franklin dropped Vargas in round four and again at the end of round six. The bout was stopped during the break between rounds.

In a clash between unbeaten super lightweights, Joshua Pagan (10-0, 4 KOs) scored an eight round unanimous decision over Roger Hilley (13-1, 8 KOs) to claim the “Junior” NABF title. Scores were 78-74 3x.

Light heavyweight Ali Akhmedov (21-1, 16 KOs) scored. Second round KO against Encarnacion Diaz (18-4, 11 KOs).

WBC #1, WBA #2, IBF #3, WBO #3 super middleweight Christian “Solid” Mbilli (26-0, 22 KOs) and Mark “Kid Dynamite” Heffron (30-3-1, 24 KOs) faced off at the final press conference for their ESPN+ clash on Saturday night at the Gervais Auto Center in Shawinigan, Quebec, Canada.

Christian Mbilli: “Heffron’s a bruiser, I’m a bruiser, so it’s likely to go fast on Saturday. Don’t blink!”

The B sample of boxing star Ryan Garcia has come back positive for the banned substance Ostarine matching the A sample taken around the time of his non-title win over Devin Haney.

Garcia, who denied using the drug, reacted to the news on social media.

I F**KING LOVE STERIODS (sic)
Let’s go we positive
Positive vibes bruh
Yess so happy
I don’t care
I’ll never make money again with boxing
Your loss not mine for setting me up
lol joke on y’all
I will swallow all Steriods (sic)

 

WBC bridgerweight champion Lukasz Rozanski and challenger Lawrence Okolie both made weight today ahead of their world title clash on Friday from Podpromie Arena in Rzeszow, Poland. Rozanski weighed 223 lbs., while Okolie scaled in at 223.5.,The bout will air live on Sky Sports in the UK and Ireland, and be available as a $14.99 PPV on TrillerTV in the U.S.

After multiple postponements, former undisputed champion Josh Taylor and top contender Jack Catterall finally fqced off at their final press conference for their highly anticipated junior welterweight rematch on ESPN+ this Saturday at First Direct Arena in Leeds, England. The bout takes place more than two years after Taylor won a controversial split decision in their first fight.

Josh Taylor: “The last fight was a stinker for both of us. Jack did a lot of holding and spoiling and slowing the pace down. I was very poor as well. So, I believe the two of us can be a lot better…I don’t really care how I win this fight, whether it’s by points or stoppage. The way I’ve been performing in the gym, the shots I’ve been throwing and catching people with… if I catch him with these shots, it will be over. It will be devastating for him. But we’ll see what happens. It’s just a win for me.”

Jack Catterall: “We’ve had the delays, the setbacks, but it’s fight week. We’re here in Leeds. It’s exciting, and I’ve done all the hard work. We’re two days now from fighting, so it’s very real, and I’m very much looking forward to it…we both know what stands in front of us now. We’re fighting on Saturday. All the talking is done. We’ve had the buildup. The fight is sold. Obviously, we don’t see eye to eye. I think we’re ready to make weight and fight…right now, all I can think about is beating Josh on Saturday.”

Jermaine Franklin 254 vs. Devin Vargas 235.2
Joshua James Pagan 135.4 vs. Roger Hilley 135.4
Ali Akhmedov 171.6 vs. Encarnacion Diaz 169.6
Josiah Shackleford 160.8 vs. Ja’Shar Banks 158.8

Date: Thursday, May 24
Venue: Wayne State Fieldhouse, Detroit, Michigan
Promoter: Salita Promotions
TV: DAZN

WBA #12 super lightweight Batyrzhan Jukembayev (23-1, 17 KOs) scored a fifth round TKO over 38-year-old veteran Ivan Redkach (24-6-1, 19 KOs) on Wednesday night at the ProBox TV Events Center in Plant City, Florida. Jukembayev pounded on Redkach for five one-sided rounds before the beatdown was stopped by the referee. Time was 2:18.

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Junior lightweight Jonhatan Cardoso (17-1, 15 KOs) scored a ten round split decision over Adam “Blunose” Lopez (17-6, 6 KOs). Scores were 99-91, 96-94 Cardoso, and 97-93 Lopez.

WBC cruiserweight champion Noel “The Dark Horse” Mikaelian (27-2, 12 KOs) has been forced out of his world title defense against number one challenger Ryan “The Bruiser” Rozicki (20-1, 19 KOs) from Ontario, Canada due to a cut near his eye. Mikaelian suffered the cut while preparing for his June 7 showdown. Although disappointed, Mikaelian will be ready for Don King’s next monumental fight card to return to the ring. “I’m sorry to my fans and the boxing community,” said Mikaelian. “I’ll be ready to return to action and defend my world title in time for Don King’s next massive event.”

“This is why we have so many title fights on the card,” said King. “June 7’s “Fists of Fury” will still have multiple titles on the line for boxing fans, and Mikaelian will be back to defend his title as soon as possible.”

* * *

Featured on the “Fists of Fury” event taking place at the Hard Rock Live at Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Hollywood, FL, will be a highly anticipated clash between former four-division world champion Adrien “The Problem” Broner (35-4-1, 24 KOs) taking on Las Vegas’ Blair “The Flair” Cobbs (16-1-1, 10 KOs). This WBC People’s Championship bout marks Broner’s journey back to a world title opportunity while Cobbs returns to the ring for the first time in nearly two years.

Hundreds of fight fans packed into Kirkgate Market this afternoon as fight week ramped up a gear in Leeds ahead of the highly anticipated rematch between bitter rivals Josh Taylor and Jack Catterall at the First Direct Arena this Saturday, shown live on DAZN in the UK and around the world and exclusively on ESPN+ in the U.S.

Josh Taylor: “We’re finally here. It’s been a long time coming. I’m looking forward to it now. I’ve had a lot of stick but I’ve never taken it personal, but I will be taking it out on Jack on Saturday night. It’s just another boxing match. Forget the last fight, forget everything else that has gone on – this is a completely new fight. New fight, new circumstances. No belt on the line. Yes, there’s some beef there but listen, I’m a consummate professional and I’m enjoying fight week. I can’t wait to get in there on Saturday.”

Jack Catterall: “We saw each other last night at the first face-off and there wasn’t a word spoken from him. We’ll see, it might change as he’s making weight and I’m making weight at the weigh-in on Friday, but right now he’s not got much to say. I think we’re both focused on the job. For me it’s personal with Josh. It’s a fight that I believe I won. I’m excited to put that right. I still have goals and aspirations of becoming a world champion, but one step at a time. We’ve got a big fight on Saturday and that’s all I’m focused on.”